Bed coverings



April 9, 1957 A. E. HUGHES ET AL BED COVERINGS Filed June 14, 1954 ewig IN1/EN ToRS.

AVE/PV E. HUGHES BEE) CVERINGS Avery E. Hughes and Virginia M. Hughes, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application .lune 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,316

lll Claims. (Ci. -335) Our invention relates to bed coverings and it relates more particularly to coverings such for instance as sheets, mattress covers, blankets, and the like, which are adapted to be mounted on a mattress. Coverings of this type include, but are not limited to, a sheet for a crib; and for purposes of simplicity of description, such a sheet will be described herein in detail.

ln the use of a crib, the mother is confronted with various problems concerning bed coverings. These include the difficulties arising from the Weight of the childs head depressing the mattress and thereby creating a hoi- W portion which collects moisture from the childs head. This moisture may consist of perspiration, saliva, spit-up food, and the like. The bed covering such as the sheet which is disposed between the childs head and the mattress, is thus positioned directly in the pool of moisture thus collected, and by its capillary attraction serves to spread this moisture over a greater area of the sheet than the normal area of the mattress depression beneath the head. As a result, once moisture is thus deposited by the child, the childs head is forced to remain in contact with the wet deposit which is carried by the sheet and is fed by the pool in the depressed mattress. This condition is both uncomfortable and unsanitary for the child. Attempts to remedy the situation have included laying a diaper upon the sheet and beneath the childs head, and also frequently replacing the sheet with a fresh one. Placing a diaper beneath the childs head, however, has proven unreliable for the movement of the child about the crib displaces the diaper. Moreover, the weight of the childs head against the diaper tends to squeeze the pores of the absorbent material and thereby cause it to act asv a sponge, alternately exuding and absorbing the moisture. The thus exuded moisture comes directly in contact with the childs head and the yundesirable situation is accordingly not remedied. Frequently replacing the sheet results in curtailing the life of the sheet by reason both of frequent laundering and strains imposed thereon, particularly when it is of the so-called contour or fitted type in which the sheet is mounted on themattress with its ends tucked thereunder.

One object of our invention is to provide a bed covering which is easily and quickly mounted upon, and removed from, a mattress, With a minimum of strain imposed on the covering during the operation, while being in snug relation to the Vmattress when so mounted.'

Another object of our invention is to provide abcd covering which is strong and sturdy in resisting the stresses and strains imposed'thereon in the mounting and removing operations as well as in the use thereof. l

A further object of our invention is to provide a bed covering which is more sanitary than those now known.

YAnother object of our invention is'to'provide av bed covering which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, etlicient and reliable inruse. Y

' With the above and other objects in view, our inventionconsists of a bed covering having a` headportion and comprising a web having'a top portion, vertical side 2,787,794 Patented Apr. 9,' 1957 portions and vertical end portions, adjacent side and end portions being secured to each other, a bottom portion comprising a substantially V-shaped margin having tip regions, an apex portion, and sides each disposed in proximity to one of said Vertical side and end portions and intermediate said apex portion and one of said tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to a june ture between one of said side and end portions, each of said tip regions being directed toward the vicinity of a next adjacent juncture between a side and end portion; said apex portion being spaced from its proximate juncture adistance greater than the distance between the tip region and its proximate side or end portion; the juncture toward which each of said tip regions is directed comprising an edge portion; a bias tape mounted on said web and secured to said edge portion of said juncture in proximity to one of said tip regions, and to the margin of said bottom portion, and secured to and extending along said margin to proximity to the other of said tip regions, and intermediate the junctures between which is disposed the side on which said last-mentioned tip region is formed, and then extending free of any of the adjacent portions to an end region, substantially forming a strap in said last-mentioned extension; means for securing said strap to the next/adjacent vertical portion; said web comprising an upper face and a lower face; a fabric secured to the lower face of said web in proximity to said head portion; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

Our invention also consists of the parts, and combinations of parts as more fully described hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention, we have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by us, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various' instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and that our inventionis not limited to the preise arrangements and organizations of the instrumentalities as lherein shown and described.

Figure l represents a bottom perspective View of a bed covering comprising our invention.

Figure 2 represents a plan view of a blank of material which Yis cut in preparation for forming a bed covering, and on which the absorbent fabric has been secured, in accordance with our invention.

Figure 3 represents an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of a bed covering mounted on a mattress and in use by a child, and embodying our invention.

Inl accordance with our invention we provide a bed covering such for instance as the crib sheet 9 which may be formedof a web l0 which may consist of percale,

muslin, nylon, cotton or other suitable material. adapted to be used in conjunction with a mattress d having sides 11, ends 12, a top i3 and a bottom ld.

informing the bed covering 9, the web 1) may be cut or otherwise formed into a blank preferably having an inclined side edge l5, a preferably parallel opposed side edge 16, and inclined end vedge 17 and a preferably parupper corner of the mattress whenv the bed coveringis in` place thereon.

Co-joinable seam edges 29 and 30 may respectively from the outer terminus 36 of the seam edge 30 to theA terminus 37 of the end edge 17 opposed to the terminus 22 thereof. Substantially similar co-joinable seam edges 38 and 39 may extend from a point 40 adapted to be disposed on the diagonally positioned upper corner of the mattress when the bed covering is in place thereon, respectively to a point 41 and to a point 42 spaced from the point 40 a distance substantially equal to the height of said mattress; and similarly an edge 43 may extend from the point 41 to the terminus 44 of the side 1S opposed to the terminus 21 thereof and an edge 45 may extend from the point 42 to a terminus 46 of the end edge 18 opposed to the point 27 thereof.

In a preferred form, the side edge 15 is disposed at an acute angle to the end edge 17, and at an obtuse angle to the end edge 18. Similarly, in a preferred form, the side edge 16 is disposed at an acute angle to the end edge 18 and at an obtuse angle with respect to the end edge 17. As a result, when viewing the spreadout blank 10, the terminii 21 and 22 are spaced from the ultimate positions of the respective mattress edges 11, 12 a distance greater than the distance between the terminii 34, 37 and the ultimate positions of the respective mattress edges 11, 12 nearest said terminii; and similarly the terminii 26 and 27 are spaced from the ultimate positions of their nearest mattress edges a distance greater than the distance between the terminii 44, 46 and the mattress edges nearest them.

A highly absorbent fabric having an absorbency factor preferably substantially greater than that of the web may be provided and formed into a pad or strip 47. This fabric may consist of washable material such for instance as that which is used in diapers. If desired, a plurality of such pads or strips may be used, as for instance the pad or strip 4S, formed of the same or similar material. In assembling the pads with the web blank 10, the blank 10 is preferably laid in an upside down manner and the pad 47 is disposed thereon preferably intermediate the ultimate locations of the end edges 12 of the mattress and generally at the head portion thereof. The pad 48 may if desired be disposed at the opposite end region of the blank 10 and at the same distances `and location with respect to the end edge 12 of the mattress on which it is to be mounted. The pads 47, 48 may be secured to the blank 10 by any desired means such for instance as the stitching 49. Co-joinable seam edges 19 and 20, 29 and 30, 24 and 25, and 38 and 39, may then be joined by any suitable means such as stitching or otherwise. In so doing, the side and end edges 15, 17 and 16, 18 are drawn inwardly in that portion thereof which `is adjacent the respective co-joined seams 19, 20, and 24, 25, operably to form substantially a bottom plane 50 parallel to and spaced from the plane 51 of the top of the sheet a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the mattress 8, as well as side walls 53, 54 and end walls 55, 56 extending from said bottom plane 50 to the top plane 51, and substantially perpendicular thereto. The plane 50 may thus intercept the side and end walls in suitably curved edges 57. A so-called contour or fitted corner 58 may thus be formed between the wall edges 57, end edge 17 and side edge 15 by means of the Co-J'Qned edges 19, 20, with the edges 17 and 15 defining a substantially V-sliaped margin 70 having its apex 71 at the juncture of the terminii 21 and 22, said apex 71 being spaced from the wall edges 57 a distance greater than the distance between the tip regions 72 of the sides 15,

17 of the V-shaped margin 74) and said wall edges 57; and a substantially similar so-called contour corner 59 may be formed by the wall edges 57, end edge 18 and side edge 16 by co-joining the edges 24, 25. ln the example of our invention as illustrated in Figures l and 2, the contour corners 58 and 59 are disposed diagonally, but it is to be understood that if desired they may be disposed sequentially about the lower edge portion of the bed covering.

A bias tape 60 may be secured by any suitable means auch for instance as sewing, to the adjacent edge p0rtions 35, 32, beginning substantially at the point 37, and to the side edge portion 16, continuing therealong substantially from its terminal point 34 to its opposed terminal point 26, and to the there adjacent end portion 18 substantially from its terminal point 27 substantially to its opposed terminal point 46; and a similar bias tape 61 may similarly be secured to the edge portions 45, 43, 15 and 17. In a preferred form, each bias tape 60, 61 is secured at the edge portion thereof which is adjacent the respective terminal points 46 and 37, to the other bias tape 61, 60 and then extends free in a strap portion 62, 63 which is of a length greater than the distance between the terminii 46 and 44 or between the terminii 34 and 37. Suitable fastening means such for instance as the snap fasteners 64 are formed on the free end of the straps 62, 63 and are adapted to cc-act with fastening means 65 disposed on the side portions 53, 54 in proximity to the terminii 44, 34.

In operation, the bed covering 9 may be mounted on the mattress 8 in the following manner: The strap 63 of one end may be extended diagonally across the bottom plane to the side 54 and fastened thereto. The corresponding end 12 of the mattress 8 may then be lifted and embraced by the end walls 55, top 51, side walls 53, 54 and contour corners 58 and strap 63. This may be achieved by a simple motion similar to slipping a sleeve over the end of the mattress 8. The top 51 may then bestretched across the top of the mattress 8 as the mattress` is lowered back in place, and the side portion 53 may be extended along the corresponding side portion 11 of the mattress, and with the adjacent lower plane portions 58 disposed beneath the mattress. in so doing, the side portionk53 is substantially laid against the mattress 8, and the end portion 55 is substantially laid against its end portion, all substantially without strain to the bed covering 9. The opposed end 12 of the mattress 8 may now be lifted and the contour portion 59 of the bed covering 9 adjacent said end may be disposed thereabout, thereby disposing the contour corner 59 beneath the mattress 8. The side portion 54 may then be substantially laid against the corresponding side portion 11 of the mattress, and the end portion 56 may similarly be laid against the corresponding end portion 12 of the mattress, with the lower plane portion 50 disposed beneath the mattress and in juxtaposition to the lower face 14 thereof. In this operation it will be noted that the tirst two corners are mounted with virtually no strain on the bed covering and may be done with the aid of the fastened strap 63 as a handle, the third comer may be slipped on the far corner of the mattress, and the `fourth corner-that which is near the operator-may be secured without lifting the mattress at all, simply by passing the strap. 62 thereunder and fastening it to the wall 53. TheA bed covering is now held securely in place.

In this operation, any tugging which may be required properly to position the bed covering 9 in place may be done by pulling on the straps 62, 63, thereby avoiding the imposition of deleterious strains on the web 10, for thev bias tapes of which the straps are formed, and which surround the lower edges of the bed covering 9, are so arranged with respect to said edges as to themselves take upA the strains which would be imposed by such tugging.

Should it be desired to lift a corner of the covering,

as for purposes of adjusting a pad therebeneath, it is merely necessary to unfasten a strap 62, 63, `and the corner can Abe lifted without disturbing the mattress.

The bed covering 9 is now ready for use. In the case of its use on a mattress to be occupied by a -child 66, the childs head 67 will rest on that portion thereof which has secured to it the highly absorbent material 47, 48. As illustrated in Figure 3, the weight of the head 67 bears downwardly yagainst the web 10, highly absorbent material y47 and the mattress 52, thereby to form a depression 68 which normally would collect moisture which may emanate from the head 67. However, in the use of our invention, such moisture would pass through the web 10 iand be drawn by capillary attraction therefrom to the highly absorbent material 47 which in turn would l5 hold it and keep it from collecting in the depression of the mattress 8 itself. The web 10 is therefore maintained in a substantially dry condition and is not resting in a pool of moisture as would otherwise be the case. When it is desired to change the position of the child, the corresponding highly absorbent material 43 may be used, as for instance when the child is turned about on the mattress. Or if desired, the bed covering may itself be turned about on the mattress so as to dispose a fresh absorbent material 48 beneath the head of the child without moving the position of the child relative to the mattress. When both labsorbent materials 47, 48 have been in use for a sufficient time to absorb quantities of moisture, the bed covering 9 may be removed from the mattress for laundering. The removal thereof is facilitated by the simple procedure provided by our invention, whereby the straps 62, 63 may be disengaged from the side portions S3, 54 by disengaging the fastening means 64 from the fastening means 65. This frees opposed diagonal corners of the mattress from contour-type engagement with the bed covering 9. The remaining corners may be freed by tilting the mattress upward or by any other suitable means. Following laundering, the bed covering 9 may be remounted on the mattress 52 in the manner hereinabove defined.

It will thus be seen that by our novel invention, sanitary means are provided for protecting the childs head 67 from harmful contact with moisture emanating therefrom, while making it readily possible quickly and easily to remove the bed covering for frequent laundering and to reposition it on the mattress following Vsaid laundering, thereby maintaining for the child a constantly sanitary bed covering.

We are aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential attributes thereof, and we therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description t-o indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new kand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bed covering having a head portion and comprising a web having a top portion, vertical side portions and vertical end portions, adjacent side and end portions being secured to each other by a juncture, ka bottom portion comprising a substantially V-shaped margin having tip regions, an apex portion, and sides each disposed in proximity to one of said vertical side and end portions and intermediate said apex portion and one of said tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to a juncture between one of said side and end portions, each of said tip regions being directed toward the vicinity of a next adjacent juncture between a side and end portion; said apex portion being spaced from its proximate juncture a distance greater than the distance between the tip region and its proximate side or end portion; the juncture toward which each of said tip regions is directed comprising an edge portion; a bias tape mounted on said web and secured to said edge portion of said extending along said margin to proximity to the other of.V said tip regions, and intermediate the junctures betweenV which is disposed the side on which said last-mentioned tip region is formed, and then extending free of any of the adjacent portions to an end region, substantially forming a strap in said last-mentioned extensiong-means for securing said strap to the next adjacent vertical portion; said web comprising `an upper face and a lower face; a fabric secured to the lower face of said webr in proximity to said head portion; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

2. A bed covering comprising a web having -a top portion, vertical side portions and vertical end portions, adjacent side and end portions being secured to each other by a juncture, a bottom portion comprising a substantially V-shaped margin having tip regions, Aan apex portion, and sides each disposed in proximity to one of said vertical side and end portions and intermediate said apex portion and Vone of s-aid tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to a juncture between one of said side and end portions, each of said tip regions being directed toward the vicinity of a nextfadjacent juncture between a side and end portion; said apex portion being spaced from its proximate juncture a distance greater than the distance between the tip region and its i extending free of any of the adjacent porti-ons to an end region, substantially forming a strap in said last-mentioned extension; means for securing said strap to the next adjacent vertical portion.

3. A bed covering having a head portion and cornprising a web having a top portion, vertical side portionsI and vertical end portions, adjacent side and end portions being secured to each other by a juncture, a bottom portion comprising a substantially V-shaped margin having4 tip regions, an apex portion, and sides each disposed in` proximity to one of said vertical side and end portions and intermediate said apex portion and one of said tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to a juncture between one of said side and end portions, each of said tip regions being directed ltoward the vicinity of a next adjacent juncture between a side and end portion; said apex portion being spaced from its proximate juncture a distance greater than the distance between the tip region and its proximate side or end portion; the juncture toward which each of said tip regions is directed comprising an edge portion; a bias tape mounted on said web and secured to said edge portion of said juncture in proximity to o-ne of said tip regions, and to the margin of said bottom portion, and secured to and extending along said margin to proximity to the other of said tip regions, and intermediate the junctures between which is disposed the side on which said last-mentioned tip region is formed, and then extending free of any of the adjacent portions to an end region, substantially forming a strap in said last-mentioned extension; means for securing said strap to the next adjacent vertical portion; a fabric secured to a face of said web in proximity to said head portion; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

4. A bed covering comprising a web having a top por tion, a vertical side portion and a vertical end portion, said side and end portions being secured to each other by a juncture, a bottom portion comprising a substantially V-shaped margin having tip regions, an apex portion, and

sides each disposed in proximity to one of. said vertical sideand end portions and intermediate said. apex portion and one of, said tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to said juncture between said side and end portions; said apex portion being spaced from its proximate juncture a distance greater than the distance between the tip region and its proximate side. or end portion.

5. A bed covering comprising a web having a top portion, a vertical side portion and a vertical end portion, said side and end portions being secured to each other by a juncture, a bottom portion comprising a substantially V-shaped margin having tip regions, an apex portion, and sides each disposed in proximity to onel of said vertical side and end portions and intermediate said, apex portion. and one of said tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to said juncture between said side and end portions; said apex portion being` spaced from its proximate juncture a distance greater than the distance between the tip region and its proximate side or end portion; said web comprising an upper face and a lower face; a fabric secured to the lower face of said web; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

6. A bed covering comprising a web having a top portion, a vertical side portion and a vertical end portion, said side and end poltions being secured to each other by a juncture, a bottom portion comprising a substantialiy V-shaped margin having tip regions, an apex portion, and sides each disposed in proximity to one of said vertical side and end portions and intermediate said apex portion and one of said tip regions, said apex portion being disposed in proximity to said juncture between said side and end portions; said apex portion being spaced from its proximate juncture a distance greater than the distance between the tip region and its proximate side or end portion; a fabric secured to a face of said web; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

7. A mattress cover having a head portion and comprising a web adapted to be disposed immediately beneath the head of a person; said web comprising an upper face and a lower face; a fabric secured to the lower face of said web in proximity to said head portion; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

8. A bed sheet comprising a web; a fabric secured to a face ofsaid web; said fabric being of greater absorbency f3 than saidweb; said web and fabric being adapted to be disposed immediately beneath av human body when said bed sheet is in use.

9. A bed covering comprising a web having a top, a bottom, and vertical side portions and vertical end portions extending between said top and said bottom, a juncture formed between adjacent side and end portions, and another juncture formed between one of. said side and end portions and the next adjacent portion, said bottom extending interiorly from the first-mentioned of said juncturcs and having an edge region extending substantially along one of said vertical portions; a bias tape secured to said edge region and extending substantially therealong to proximity to, but spaced from, said lastmentioned juncture, and then extending free of said web to an `end region, substantially forming a strap in said last-mentioned extension; means for securing said strapA to the next adjacent vertical portion.

10. A bed covering comprising a web having a top, a bottom, and vertical side portions and vertical end p0rtions extending between said top and said bottom, a juncture formed between adjacent side and end portions, and another juncture formed between Vone of said side and end portions and the next adjacent portion, said bottom extending interiorly from the first-mentioned of said junctures and having an edge region extending substantially along one of said vertical portions; a bias tape secured to said edge regionr and extending substantially therealong to proximity to, but spaced from, said lastmentioned juncture, and then extending free of said web to an end region, substantially forming a strap in said last-mentioned extension; means for securing said strap to the next adjacent vertical portion; said top comprising an upper face and a lower face; a fabric secured to said lower face; said fabric being of greater absorbency than said web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,425,952 Fidler Aug. 15, 1922 1,996,575 Fry et al. Apr. 2, 1935 2,057,551 Bishop Oct. 13, 1936 2,569,627 Black Oct. 2, 1951 2,610,336 Schworm Sept. 16, 1952 2,630,588 Levin Mar. 10, 1953 

